Signing Gary Cahill could solve Aston Villa’s defensive woes

According to a report by The Telegraph, Chelsea will allow veteran defender Gary Cahill to leave the club on loan in January. By doing so, the Londoners will effectively see out the last six months of his contract, meaning a renewal is highly unlikely at this point.

Cahill has been rock-solid for Chelsea over the years but it looks like the Blues are set to bid adieu to the 32-year-old once the winter window commences. The report further states that Aston Villa are interested in signing the prolific Englishman.

Villa have been through some of the lowest lows in the first half of the season already. Despite making a strong impression – and nearly securing promotion to the Premier League – the last term, the Birmingham-based outfit embarked on this campaign rather weakly.

As a result, the club sacked Steve Bruce and appointed Dean Smith their new manager. Currently placed 11th after 17 games, Villa have conceded a staggering 23 goals. Amongst the top 12, that number comes second after West Bromwich Albion’s 25.

Signing John Terry was a rather shrewd move last season and the club did enjoy the rewards of having an experienced and skilled leader at the back. But since his exit over the summer, Aston Villa have struggled at the back.

Sending Tommy Elphick out on loan was nothing short of a blunder since that left only James Chester as the only experienced centre-back option. The likes of Mile Jedinak and Axel Tuanzebe have been utilized in that role lately but Villa need a new leader.

And to that end, a move for Terry’s former teammate does make sense. One might argue that he is on the wrong side of 30 and clearly lacks pace and mobility on the field.

However, Terry was on the same boat last season and yet, he made such a significant impact for the club. More than anything else, Cahill’s talent and leadership skills are unquestionable, making him a great option for Villa at this point.

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They could dive into the transfer market and look for a long-term option but to be honest, Villa must prioritize fixing their problems right now. A short-term fix is what they need to get their campaign back on track and hence, the club must make a move to sign Cahill on loan in January.